webmaster
June 10th, 2005, 06:55 AM
Lakes Legislation Week
Lakes Congress & Dock Setbacks
June 3, 2005
New Hampshire Lakes Association On Saturday, June 18th, the New Hampshire Lakes Association will host the Twelfth New Hampshire Lakes Congress at the Center at Eastman in Grantham. There will be a variety of events and workshops scheduled including a speech on the State of the Lakes by Governor John Lynch. I will be doing a workshop with Senator Bob Odell, District 8, on grassroots activism and lobbying your lawmakers. The registration fee is $35 per person and includes lunch, refreshments and materials for all workshops. If you have not received a brochure, please call us or go online (address below). This is an opportunity to network with other lake enthusiasts and get up to date on lake issues. I hope to see you there.
In other lake-related news, the Senate Finance Committee has added an amendment to House Bill 433. The amendment will give the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services (DES) the ability to waive dock setbacks to property lines on new applications. Currently, the law requires the dock applicant to get a signed, notarized waiver from the property abutter whenever the proposed dock will be closer than 20 feet to the property line. If passed, this new amendment would set a dangerous precedent by allowing DES to waive that requirement on a case-by-case basis, leading to the possibility for funnel development and infringements on the property rights of abutters. ACTION: Please contact your Senator and tell them to vote NO on the proposed amendment on dock setbacks.
Finally, the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee of the House will hold three public hearings in the Lakes Region on June 29th, July 6th and July 13th on House Bill 162 from 7 pm to 11 pm. As you know, the bill will place a much needed speed limit of 45 mph on Lake Winnipesaukee during the day, and a 25-mph-speed limit at night. The locations for the hearings have not been set, but I will let you know when that information becomes available. No action needed at this time.
I will continue to provide the link to your legislators: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/whosmyleg/ (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/whosmyleg/)
Please visit our website at www.nhlakes.org (http://www.nhlakes.org/) regularly for the latest information.
Thank you.
Jared A. Teutsch, J.D.
Environmental Policy Director
New Hampshire Lakes Association
5 South State St.
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 226-0299
jteutsch@nhlakes.org (jteutsch@nhlakes.org) : www.nhlakes.org (http://www.nhlakes.org/)
Lakes Congress & Dock Setbacks
June 3, 2005
New Hampshire Lakes Association On Saturday, June 18th, the New Hampshire Lakes Association will host the Twelfth New Hampshire Lakes Congress at the Center at Eastman in Grantham. There will be a variety of events and workshops scheduled including a speech on the State of the Lakes by Governor John Lynch. I will be doing a workshop with Senator Bob Odell, District 8, on grassroots activism and lobbying your lawmakers. The registration fee is $35 per person and includes lunch, refreshments and materials for all workshops. If you have not received a brochure, please call us or go online (address below). This is an opportunity to network with other lake enthusiasts and get up to date on lake issues. I hope to see you there.
In other lake-related news, the Senate Finance Committee has added an amendment to House Bill 433. The amendment will give the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Services (DES) the ability to waive dock setbacks to property lines on new applications. Currently, the law requires the dock applicant to get a signed, notarized waiver from the property abutter whenever the proposed dock will be closer than 20 feet to the property line. If passed, this new amendment would set a dangerous precedent by allowing DES to waive that requirement on a case-by-case basis, leading to the possibility for funnel development and infringements on the property rights of abutters. ACTION: Please contact your Senator and tell them to vote NO on the proposed amendment on dock setbacks.
Finally, the Resources, Recreation and Development Committee of the House will hold three public hearings in the Lakes Region on June 29th, July 6th and July 13th on House Bill 162 from 7 pm to 11 pm. As you know, the bill will place a much needed speed limit of 45 mph on Lake Winnipesaukee during the day, and a 25-mph-speed limit at night. The locations for the hearings have not been set, but I will let you know when that information becomes available. No action needed at this time.
I will continue to provide the link to your legislators: http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/whosmyleg/ (http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/ie/whosmyleg/)
Please visit our website at www.nhlakes.org (http://www.nhlakes.org/) regularly for the latest information.
Thank you.
Jared A. Teutsch, J.D.
Environmental Policy Director
New Hampshire Lakes Association
5 South State St.
Concord, NH 03301
(603) 226-0299
jteutsch@nhlakes.org (jteutsch@nhlakes.org) : www.nhlakes.org (http://www.nhlakes.org/)